Occurrence and Characterization of a Turnip Mosaic Virus Isolate Infecting Alliaria petiolata in Ontario, Canada. L. W. Stobbs, Research Scientist, Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Vineland Station, Ontario L0R 2E0. J. G. Van Schagen, Research Assistant, Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Vineland Station, Ontario L0R 2E0. Plant Dis. 71:965-968. Accepted for publication 3 June 1987. Copyright 1987 Department of Agriculture, Government of Canada. DOI: 10.1094/PD-71-0965.

An aphid-transmissible virus infecting Alliaria petiolata in southern Ontario was identified as turnip mosaic virus (TuMV). Host range studies characterized the A. petiolata virus isolate (TuMV-Al) as distinct from the Ontario rutabaga isolate (TuMV-Br). TuMV-Al was not transmissible to most Cruciferae tested, and A. petiolata did not act as a reservoir for the TuMV-Br strain that infects commercially grown Brassica crops in the area. The virus was not detected in seed or seedlings grown from vernalized seed from infected plants of A. petiolata when tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or sap-inoculation onto herbaceous indicator plants. Indigenous populations of Myzus persicae collected from infected plants transmitted virus in a nonpersistent manner for up to 8 hr after acquisition from A. petiolata. Both TuMV isolates were serologically related, and particles of both viruses were morphologically similar. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis failed to resolve differences between either proteins or nucleic acids of the TuMV-Al and TuMV-Br isolates. On the basis of these studies, TuMV-Al is a related strain of TuMV.

Keyword(s): garlic mustard.